The Maharashtra State Forest Employees Welfare Scheme came into force with effect form 9th August 2006.
The main features of the scheme are as under :-

1. THE OBJECTS OF THE FUND

The primary object of the Fund is to introduce and adopt measures for the welfare of the employees of the Forest Department, Social Forestry Department of the State of Maharashtra and members of their families as defined in Rule 9 of the Maharashtra Civil Services Rules. The Fund is a benevolent fund contributing towards intended for the benefit of its members to the maximum extent the resources permit and is based on the principle of mutual help and cooperation.

Assistance from the Fund shall be provided to its members.

to meet expenses in connection with emergencies such as accident, sudden demise through the insurance cover.

to provide interest free loans as a stop gap arrangement till official advances or medical bills are sanctioned to meet the expenses related to urgent medical check up, treatment/ operation. These loans shall be recovered from the medical advances/ bills/salary with in a period of six months. If the interest free loan is not repaid within the six month period, interest at 4 per annum shall also be recovered from the member.

To conduct general medical checkup camps/ blood donation camps (for ensuring availability of blood to the members in the need of hour).

To rehabilitate the medically invalidated needy members/ dependents/ orphaned members of families through vocational training/ educational support etc.

To carry out other welfare activities as decided by the Management Committee.

2. MEMBERSHIP :-

The membership to the Fund shall be voluntary.

The employees, to whom these rules are applicable shall make an application for his enrolment as a member of the fund in the prescribed form to the Chairman of the Executive Committee.

A member of the fund can continue to be a member so long as he/she is in employment of the Government of Maharashtra

A member of the Fund, on leave or on deputation or under suspension, shall continue to be a member, so long as he holds a lien on a post in the Forest Department/SFD and continues to subscribe regularly to the Fund in his posted Division/ Office.

3. SUBscr-iptION FROM THE MEMBERS
Subscr-iption shall be collected from all the members of the Fund at the rates decided by the Management Committee. The present rate of the subscr-iption is as under :-

CADRE

RATE OF ANNUAL SUBscr-iptION

All

Subscr-iption

Personal Accident Insurance Scheme Subscr-iption

Total

Rs. 200/-

Rs 161/-

Rs 361/-

4. ADMINISTRATION OF THE FUND
The fund shall be administered in accordance with the approved rules under the guidance of the Management Committee, Executive Committee and Divisional Committee.

5. QUALIFICATIONS FOR BENEFITS
In deciding priority of claims to benefits, on case to case basis, the Executive Committee shall take into consideration :-

Urgency of the need of the applicant.

the circumstances of the family of the subscriber.

the length of service of the subscriber.

genuineness of purpose, and other relevant information pertaining to the claim/ economic condition of the member/dependents.

The quality of the service the subscriber has rendered.

Track record of payment of subscr-iptions.

6. SUBscr-iptION and DONATIONS

Every member of the Fund shall subscribe to the Fund at rates mentioned above. Subscr-iption is paid during first fortnight of April/October of that year, but not later than 30th April/31st October.

Donations from individuals/Registered Societies/ Organizations/others may be accepted both in cash/kind (e.g. Forest/Wild Life Protection Equipment, vehicles etc) subject to prior approval by the Executive Committee and will issue receipt for the same.

7. ACCOUNTS OF THE FUND
The Accounts of the Fund will be maintained by the staff under Conservator of Forests (HRD) Nagpur who is the Treasurer of the Fund. The Account of the Fund shall be operated jointly by Member Sectary and Treasurer of the Executive committee. The Accounts of the Fund shall be audited by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, M.S., Nagpur annually preferably in the month of May. In addition, these accounts shall be audited by the Local Audit Department of the Government of Maharashtra I.e. the Chief Auditor, Local Fund Accounts, Mumbai

8. ACCOUNTS OF THE DIVISIONAL COMMETTEE
Each Divisional Committee shall open Saving Bank Account with State Bank of India / Nationalize Bank and credit all the moneys received from the Executive Committee in the respective accounts. The Accounts shall be jointly/singly operated by the Chairman and Treasurer of the Divisional Committee. Treasure shall maintain a Cash book and the funds shall promptly be recorded in that Cashbook. Treasurer shall send the same to the Management Committee by 30th April every year. The Inspecting Officer shall inspect annually and shall audit the accounts.

9. HONORARIUM The staff which is required to maintain the Accounts of Divisional and Executive Committees may be granted an honorarium at the rate that may be fixed by the Management Committee.

10. SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS
All applications shall in the first instance be investigated by the Divisional Committee and if the Divisional Committee finds that such applications come within the scope of the Fund, it shall forward the same with a full statement in each case, in the forms prescribed for the purpose, to the Executive Committee for disposal.

11. PROCEDURE FOR PAYMENT OF BENEFITS/LOANS
Payments to the beneficiaries shall be made in cash / by cheques. It would be necessary to obtain the consent of the beneficiaries regarding mode of payment.

12. EMERGENCY POWERS OF DIVISIONAL COMMITTEE
Each Divisional Committee may advance up to Rs.5000/- for the fund at its disposal to meet urgent cases of distress among the dependents of the subscribers of the Fund. The said action should be reported to the Executive committee

13. DECISIONS OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE TO BE FINAL
The decision of the Management Committee on all matters connected with the interpretation of the Rules of the Fund and the adjudication of all claims shall be final.